Pedestrian injuries are far too common. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a fatal pedestrian traffic crash occurred every 81 minutes in 2020. When you drive, you take on the responsibility of practicing safe driving habits. Walkers also have a certain amount of control over their well-being.
You can avoid almost every pedestrian motor vehicle accident. See below for tips on preventing a tragedy that might alter your life forever.
Pedestrian safety
Pedestrians are more vulnerable than motorists. However, some precautions might go a long way toward your safety. If you walk in high-traffic areas, always follow traffic laws and obey traffic signals. Try to stay on sidewalks as much as possible. If sidewalks are not an option, walk facing oncoming traffic. This seems counterintuitive, but it gives you a better view of potentially dangerous drivers, giving you more time to react. Most pedestrian accidents happen when walkers do not use crosswalks. If one is unavailable, choose a highly visible area to cross traffic.
Driver safety
Drivers should always assume there are pedestrians, even when they cannot see them. If you drive in an urban area, slow down at every crosswalk, especially at night. If a car stops at a crosswalk, never attempt to pass it. This is especially true in school zones, where children might not exercise the most caution when crossing the street.
Driver and pedestrian safety go a long way toward preventing tragedy. Violating safety rules not only puts yourself in danger but also endangers the lives of other individuals and their families.
